History GameOfThrones / TropesGToK

** Jaime is called 'Kingslayer' as an insult for both metaphorically and literally stabbing the Mad King Aerys in the back. Even characters like Robert, Ned and Stannis who wouldn't have hesitated to kill the Mad King themselves if they'd had the chance, look down on him for it. [[spoiler:It doesn't help that Jaime never even tried to explain that Aerys would have blown up King's Landing and killed its entire population if he had not intervened.]]

** It will in Season 4. Two words: Red Viper.

* InTheBack: How Jaime Lannister offed the Mad King, making his BodyguardBetrayal twice as dishonorable. Ned rubs it in Jaime's face despite having had family members personally tortured to death by the King, showing how people in Westeros see this kind of thing.

*** In "You Win or You Die," he refuses to make the first strike at the Lannisters within King's Landing, even though this could grant them time to plan a strike of their own. He also rejects Littlefinger and Renly's underhanded but eminently sensible plans.

** Tywin Lannister's backstory. He served for twenty years as Hand of the King to Aerys II Targaryen, ''the Mad King'', in what was considered the one of the most stable and prosperous period Westeros had experienced since Aegon's Landing. Things went truly south after Tywin was dismissed. He later takes the position again in Season 3, as he is the [[DragonInChief only thing]] keeping [[TheCaligula his grandson]] on the throne.

** Ned Stark, who tries to get King Robert to do the right thing, and mitigate the damage whenever his advice is ignored.

** Tyrion serves as Joffrey's much needed counterbalance in Season 2. In no small part, the Lannister banner is sustained thanks to Tyrion's brief but brilliant stint as acting Hand of the King.

* InSeriesNickname: Sandor "the Hound" Clegane, Gregor "the Mountain" Clegane, Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish, Varys "the Spider", Tyrion "the Imp"/"Halfman" Lannister, Ser Loras "the Knight of Flowers" Tyrell, Jaime "Kingslayer" Lannister, Brienne "the Beauty" Tarth, Ser Davos "the Onion Knight" Seaworth, Lady Melisandre "The Red Woman", Brynden "the Blackfish" Tully.

** Loras Tyrell also looks the part and, apart from some CombatPragmatism, comes closer to actually acting like it. Unfortunately for his {{Fangirl}}s (at least those of the non-yaoi persuasion), though, he's gay.

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*** Although Loras is not romantically interested in Sansa, his adherence to knightly ideals plays a part in wanting to rescue her from the hell she's in, and he willingly enters into an [[spoiler:ArrangedMarriage]] with the girl so that [[spoiler:he can whisk her away to Highgarden]]. Say what you will of his grandmother's and sister's ulterior motives, but Loras is more honourable than that. He understands that King's Landing is a terrible place for Sansa, and he sees her as a DamselInDistress who is held prisoner by the "monster" Joffrey.

*** Although Loras is not romantically interested in Sansa, his adherence to knightly ideals plays a part in wanting to rescue her from the hell she's in, and willingly enters into an [[spoiler:ArrangedMarriage]] with the girl so that [[spoiler:he can whisk her away to Highgarden]]. Say what you will of his grandmother's and sister's ulterior motives, but Loras is more honourable than that. He understands that King's Landing is a terrible place for Sansa, and he sees her as a DamselInDistress who is held prisoner by the "monster" Joffrey.

** Sansa is constantly referred to as most beautiful, as is Cersei Lannister.

* GenreSavvy: Renly is very good at reading people and has an excellent grasp of politics. After Robert is fatally wounded, Renly knows that the only way to prevent Joffrey from taking the throne and keep Ned as Protector of the Realm is to immediately capture Joff as a hostage. Renly's wisdom in this matter sharply contrasts Ned's GenreBlindness, as everything the younger man says does come to pass. Renly is also smart to flee King's Landing when Ned refuses to carry out his plan.
-->'''Renly''': Strike! Tonight, while the castle sleeps! We must get Joffrey away from his mother and into our custody. Protector of the Realm or no, he who holds the king holds the kingdom. Every moment you delay gives Cersei another moment to prepare. By the time Robert dies, it will be too late for the both of us.

* ImminentDangerClue: In the final scene of "The Rains of Castamere," [[spoiler:Catelyn]] notices three of these. [[spoiler: First, someone bars the doors. Second, the musicians [[MusicalSpoiler begin playing a song]] whose key, content, and ''especially'' [[VillainSong subject matter]] (though this version is an instrumental) are inappropriate for the setting. The final, threat-''confirming'' clue is the reveal that [[FalseFriend Lord Bolton]] is wearing chainmail under his clothes.

* InappropriateHunger: The Tickler enjoys a snack while overseeing brutal torture.

* JoustingLance: The Mountain kills [[spoiler:Ser Hugh of the Vale]] with one. He is also referenced to have done the same to Beric Dondarrion [[spoiler: though [[ResurrectiveImmortality ''he'' got better]]]]

** This was also apparently the Mad King's favored method of killing people, and his daughter Daenerys uses fire to kill [[spoiler:Mirri for her treachery.]] He ''was'' "The Dragon", after all.

** Stannis Baratheon, who corrects Davos Seaworth on the usage of "less" versus "fewer" when Davos is talking about his own [[{{fingore}} severed fingers]]. Overlaps with YouMakeMeSic, as it was Stannis who had them cut off.

* GreatOffscreenWar: A few, but the most important is the war sixteen years ago in which Robert Baratheon overthrew the Mad King and drove the former royal family into exile.

* HeldGaze: Doreah spells its importance out for Dany. ''[[LesYay very]]'' clearly.

** Brienne wears her helmet for a SamusIsAGirl introduction, and during the parley between Renly and Stannis, but never after.

** The Unsullied are FacelessMooks for whom IndividualityIsIllegal (or was, before they were freed). When Grey Worm is made general, he removes his helmet and keeps it off after that (also indicative that he's a significant character and not an extra).

** Lord Beric Dondarrion, leader of the [[LaResistance Brotherhood Without Banners]][[spoiler:is a subversion]]. He's one of the more altruistic characters in the show and is fighting for the smallfolk, and is one of the only people in the war who is, [[spoiler:but he's a devoted servant of the Lord of Light, and is willing to do anything in service to him, including selling an innocent bastard boy to be sacrificed.]]

** Jaime is called 'Kingslayer' as an insult for both metaphorically and literally stabbing the Mad King Aerys in the back. Even characters like Robert, Ned and Stannis who wouldn't have hesitated to kill the Mad King themselves if they'd had the chance, look down on him for it. It doesn't help that Jaime never even tried to explain that Aerys would have blown up King's Landing and killed its entire population if he had not intervened.

* IfYoureSoEvilEatThisKitten: The wildlings demand that Jon Snow kill the horse trader they've captured in "The Rains of Castamere". He can't do it, thus proving he's a FakeDefector.

* ImminentDangerClue: In the final scene of "The Rains of Castamere," [[spoiler:Catelyn]] notices three of these. First, someone bars the doors. Second, the musicians [[MusicalSpoiler begin playing a song]] whose key, content, and ''especially'' [[VillainSong subject matter]] (though this version is an instrumental) are inappropriate for the setting. The final, threat-''confirming'' clue is the reveal that [[spoiler:[[FalseFriend Lord Bolton]]]] is wearing chainmail under his clothes.

** Sansa is constantly referred to as most beautiful.

* JoustingLance: The Mountain kills [[spoiler:Ser Hugh of the Vale]] with one.

* HeirClubForMen: All the noble families thus far seen practise male-preferential primogeniture inheritance: the oldest son inherits, but if there are no suitable male heirs, a daughter can make do. The Iron Throne, however, can only go to a man according to Septa Mordane. If a king only has daughters, his closest male relative will sit the throne instead. This is different from the books, where evidently a woman ''can'' sit the Iron Throne, as Stannis has explicitly named his daughter Shireen his heir should he win the throne.
** Stannis selecting Shireen is more of a gauge on how few other choices he has. Both his brothers died without legitimate heirs and Shireen is his only child, meaning a decendent of one of Stannis' grandparents at the least. The last time a woman inherited the Iron Throne it sparked a terrible civil war called the "Dance of the Dragons", after which the laws were settled to prevent a reoccurance by favouring male relatives over female children.

*** Somewhat justifed by the fact that, no matter how padded, a metal pot on your head in serious sub-zero temperatures would probably be a very unpleasant experience.

* HufflepuffHouse: Dorne is one of the original Seven Kingdoms, but has yet to play a greater role in show other than having a young princess sent there. This will be less true when [[spoiler: the Red Viper]] arrives.

** No one in the Night's Watch wears a helmet, despite the freezing conditions. Qhorin and Will at least wear hats.

** During "Blackwater," none of the main characters wear helmets, not even Stannis (who is leading the siege) or the Hound {who has been established to have a badass helmet). Tyrion does don one early on when he leads the counterattack and only removes it when he thinks they've won. Nevertheless, he fights with his visor open. George R.R. Martin comments about this throughout the DVDCommentary, as he went to some trouble to avert the trope in the novels.

** Daenerys Targaryen, [[GovernmentInExile the exiled queen]], fights for the throne that she believes is rightfully hers. She is also kindhearted and fights for the freedom of those who have had it taken from them, [[PayEvilUntoEvil though her actions against the 'evil' people she comes across is harsh]], to say the least. Like Robb, she is is attractive, charismatic, intelligent, and a natural leader.

** Jaime is called 'Kingslayer' as an insult for both metaphorically and literally stabbing the Mad King Aerys in the back. Even characters like Robert, Ned and Stannis who wouldn't have hesitated to kill the Mad King themselves if they'd had the chance, look down on him for it. No one cares for Jaime's explanation that if he hadn't killed him, Aerys would have blown up King's Landing and killed its entire population.

* HufflepuffHouse: Dorne is one of the original Seven Kingdoms, but has yet to play a greater role in show other than having a young princess sent there.

* GrayEyes: Unlike his book counterpart, Show!Stannis has gray eyes, which reflect his cold and strong-willed personality.

* HeirClubForMen: All the noble families thus far seen practise male-preferential primogeniture inheritance: the oldest son inherits, but if there are no suitable male heirs, a daughter can make do. The Iron Throne, however, can only go to a man according to Septa Mordane. If a king only has daughters, his closest male relative will sit the throne instead. This is different from the books, where evidently a woman ''can'' sit the Iron Throne, as Stannis has explicitly named his daughter Shireen his heir should he win the throne.
* HeldGaze: Doreah spells its importance out for Dany. ''[[LesYay Very]]'' clearly.

** During "Blackwater," none of the main characters wear helmets, not even Stannis, who is leading the siege. Tyrion does don one early on when he leads the flanking force and only removes it when he thinks they've won. Nevertheless, he fights with his visor open. George R.R. Martin complains about this throughout the DVDCommentary, as he went to some trouble to avert the trope in the novels.

** He doesn't back Renly's bid for the throne, but Renly's a diplomat with no combat experience in a situation that WILL require winning a war. Sure enough, Renly does nothing but divide the forces against the Lannisters. He also does not have a right to be king at the time, and you can't kick Joffrey off the throne because he's not the rightful king and replace him with someone else who isn't the rightful king.

* GoryDiscretionShot: Averted constantly and inverted in-universe. People (especially the Stark children) are sometimes forced to witness beheadings and other things they'd rather look away from. Played straight in-universe, when Yoren ensures that Arya does not see [[spoiler: her father's execution]], but she later admits that imagining haunts her just as badly.

* GrayEyes: Unlike his book counterpart, Stannis on the show has gray eyes, which reflect his cold and strong-willed personality.

* HappilyMarried: Ned and Catelyn Stark seem to be genuinely in love in a world where most marriages (including their own) are arranged for political reasons. Khal Drogo and Daenerys form a surprising bond.

** Dany tries to convince Drogo to help her retake the Seven Kingdoms for their son, and after [[spoiler:she's nearly assassinated while pregnant]], he agrees... and announces this with a long speech in which he explains his plans to basically ransack the entire continent. Dany's later reactions show that she has no taste for Dothraki brutality.

** Astapor slavers creating the [[BadassArmy Army of the Unsullied]]. [[spoiler: Daenerys [[SlaveLiberation frees them]] and [[TurnedAgainstTheirMasters turns them against their former masters]]]].
* TheGoodChancellor:

** Tywin Lannister's backstory. He served for twenty-years as Hand of the King to Aerys II Targaryen, ''the Mad King'', in what was considered the most stable and prosperous period Westeros had experienced since Aegon's Landing. Things went truly south after Tywin was dismissed. He later takes the position again in Season 3, as he is the [[DragonInChief only thing]] keeping [[TheCaligula his grandson]] on the throne.

** His only really dumb move is trusting [[spoiler: Littlefinger]] despite repeated instructions ''by [[spoiler: Littlefinger him]]self'' that that is really not a good idea. This makes him more of a HorribleJudgeOfCharacter.
* TheGoodKing: Subverted. Many characters aspire to be good kings, but playing the Game of Thrones always seems to force them into making dishonorable choices or putting them in [[MortonsFork Morton's Forks]] where they cannot help but cause something bad to happen.

* GoryDiscretionShot: Averted constantly and inverted in-universe. People (especially the Stark children) are sometimes forced to witness beheadings and other things they'd rather look away from.

** Stannis Baratheon, who corrects Davos Seaworth on the usage of "less" versus "fewer" when Davos is talking about his [[{{fingore}} severed fingers]]. Overlaps with YouMakeMeSic, as it was Stannis who had them cut off.